HOMES 



OF OUR 



FORE FATHERS. 




ST. BOTOLPH'S CHURCH. 



Homes of Our Forefathers 



Boston, Old England and 

Boston, New England 



FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BV 

EDWIN WHITEFIELD 



I AUn 2 1889, ■/ 



E. WHITEFIELD 
211 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 



Copyright by Edwin Whitefield 1SS9 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



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PREFACE. 

In presenting this work to the public I wish to sav a few words. 

Last year I visited Enf^land for the special purpose of sketching and Jiunt- 
ing up wliatevcr there might be of interest in the Boston which gave Its name to our 
own cit\', and 1 thought tiiat 1)\' bringing together in one volume the two Bostons, 
I could produce a work which would be mucii more interesting than it they were 
published separately. 

I can honestly sav tliat no labor, time, or expense has been spared in accom- 
plishing this object : and I have endeavored to the best of my ability to produce a 
work of which Bostonians, both English and American, will not be ashamed. It 
is not in some respects all that I could desire, but whei-e any imperfections have 
occurred they were unavoidable, and will, I trust, be not too severely criticised. 

I need scarcely say to those who have seen my other work, " Homes of our 
Forefathers in the Six New England States," that this volume has been gotten uj) 
in a far more expensive style ; and I flatter myself that a generous public will ap- 
preciate the effort I have made to please them. 

In conclusion, I wish to return my sincere thanks to those who have given 
me information respecting the buildings herein represented. 

The Aspinwall House, now in Brookline, when built stood on land that 
formed part -of Boston. 



(3) 



I NDEX 



ENGLAND. 



Al.ms House 

Bridge 

BiRTON House .... 

Chantry Chapel 
Cotton, Rev. John . 
Foxe's Birthplace . . 
Flemish House .... 

Grammar School . . 

guildh.vll ...... 

Heron's Hall .... 

Historical Notes . . . 
House on Church Street 



14 
16 
3S 
22 
iS 
-4 
30 
24 

40 
-10 



30 



House on Archer Lane . . . 

House on Stanbow Lane . 34 

Hussey Castle 26 



Jerusalem House . . 
Knight's Tomb . 
Lady's Tomb .... 

Monastery 

Rochpord Tower . . 
St. Botolph's Church 
Shod Friar's Hall 
Three Tuns Inn 
White Horse Inn . . 



3S 
36 
36 

28 

20 
1 1 
12 
40 
3^ 



NEW ENGLAND. 



Aspinwall House . . 
Auchmuty House . . 
B.VDGER House . . . 
Blackstone House 
Blake House .... 
Capen House .... 
Christ CntiRCH . . . 
Clough House . . 
Clough-Vernon House 
Crafts House . . 
Curtis House . . . 
Everett House . . 
Fanueil House . . . 
First Meeting House 
Galloupe House . . 
G.\rdner House . . . 
Gr.\y House .... 
Green Dragon Tavern- 
Hancock Tavern . . 
Hartt House . . 

kimball-p.'vrker house 



48 

68 
84 
66 
78 
82 
64 
So 
52 
54 
66 
70 
84 
S8 
SO 
56 
56 
60 
76 
74 



King's Chapel 

Lincoln House 

Matuer-Eliot House . . 

New.man House 

Old Fe.\ther Store . 
Ochtorlony House . . . 
Old Corner Bookstore 
Old State House .... 
Old South Meeting House 
P.\UL Revere House . . 

Pierce House 

Province House 

She.\fe House 

Shirley House 

Sun Tavern 

Thoreau House 

Tileston House 

Tremere House 

Warren House 

Wells House 



72 
76 
74 
60 
62 
80 
70 
45 
82 

64 
50 
58 
46 
48 
46 

54 
78 
62 

52 
68 



(S) 



HISTORICAL NOTES. 

Boston in Lincolnshire, England, is situated on both sides of the 
Witham River, at a distance of about six miles from its mouth. There is a 
probability that the Romans had some kind of a settlement in this neighbor- 
hood, or perhaps lower down the river, in order to prevent pirates from 
ascending the Witham and attacking their city of Lindum, now Lincoln, as 
the river was deeper then than it is now, and vessels of considerable size 
could ascend as far up as Lincoln. 

But it is not until the middle of the seventh centur}' that we have any 
definite knowledge of this place, then called Yecanhoe, or Icanhoe. 

According to an old writer, John of Tynemouth, a monastery was 
founded here by St. Botolph in the year 650, and he died here A.D. 680. 
This monaster}-, and whatever settlements might have been connected with 
it, was destro)'^ed by the Danes in the year 870 ; and from this period until 
1090 we have no record of what transpired. But it is certain that there was 
at that time some kind of a village ; for we are informed that in that year 
Alan, Earl of Brittany, gave a church, as the gift of the Church of St. Botolph, 
to the abbey of St. Mary at York. 

In the reign of Henry IL, about 1160, we tind that Boston, then called 
St. Botolph's Town, was the property of Conan, Earl of Richmond. After 
his death, in 1171, it belonged to the Crown, until 1241. During this time 
Boston must have been growing, for we hear of the manufacture of woolen 
cloths being carried on here to a considerable extent. 

The commerce of Boston", also, must have been considerable at this 
early date, for even in 1205 the share of taxes paid by Boston was greater 
than that of any other port in England except London, the latter paj'ing 
£836, and Boston £789. 

The merchants of Flanders and the Hanseatic League carried on a 
large trade with Boston about this time, and some of them occupied houses 
there ; the remains of two or three of which may still be seen. 

In 1285 Boston must have been surrounded b\- a wall, as a grant was 
made bj- Edward I. of a toll to the burgesses of Boston in aid of repairing 
said wall. 

This grant is very interesting for many reasons, and especiallj' to show 
that the people of that period enjoyed not only the necessaries, but most of the 
luxuries, that their descendants do at the present time. 

The following is a partial list : — 

For every one hundred pounds of pepper, ginger, cinnamon, one 
farthing. 

(9) 



For every one hundred jiounds of sugar, liquorice, and pimentum, one 
tartliing. 

For every frail of" raisins and tigs, one farthing. 

Every barrel of steel wire, one farthing. 

For every one hundred pounds of wax. rice, and almonds, one half- 
penny. 

For every one Inindred pounds of cloves, mace, nutmegs, one penny. 

For ever\' one hundred pounds of saffron and silk, one penn\-. 

Ton of honey, one penny. 

For every one thousand yards of best gray cloth, one penny, etc. 

During the centin-y from 1200 to 1300. Boston suffered severely from 
several floods. 

In 1369 Boston was made a staple town tor the sale of wool, leatlier, 
etc. This word "staple" was applied in the commerce of the Middle Ages; 
in the first instance to the towns in which the chief products of a countr\' 
were sold, and afterward to the merchandise sold at these towns. 

From this period until the present time, Boston has increased in w ealth 
and population verv slowly, and now numbers only about 25.000 people. 



ST. BOTOLPH'S CHURCH. 

This elegant structure, claimed to be the largest parish church (with- 
out cross aisles) in E^urope, was commenced A.D. 1309, in the third year of 
Edward II. ; and in the lollowing j'car Dame or Lady Margaret Tilney laid 
the foundation stone, on which she. Sir John I'ruesdale, and Richard Steven- 
son laid £5 each as contributions toward the expenses. 

Two hundred years passed away before this building was finished. 

It is 300 feet long and 100 feet wide within the walls ; and the tower, 
claimed to be the tallest a'nd noblest in Europe, is 300 feet in height, including 
the lantern. It can be seen at a distance of 40 miles by land, and at a still 
greater distance by sea. The walls are built of stone, and the roof is hand- 
somel}' ceiled with oak, supported by tall and slender pillars. 

Before the building of the tower the church was adorned by lour 
turrets, two of which still remain. 

Restorations have at various times been made to this churcii. In 1854 
the southeast chapel was restored at cost of ^3,250 by some citizi;ns of Boston, 
Mass., as a memorial to the Rev. John Cotton, a former vicar of tliis church, 
who emigrated to New England in 1633. 

Here are some interesting statistics : — 
Steps to the tower, 365 ; corresponding to days in a year. 
Windows in church, 52 ; corresponding to weeks in a year. 
Pillars in church, 12 : corresponding to months in a year. 
Doors in church, 7 ; corresponding to days in a week. 
Steps to library, 24; corresponding to hours in a day. 
Stairs to chancel, 60: corresponding to minutes in an hour. 



(II) 



SHOT> FRIARS' HALL. 

I This beautiful building, erected within the last twenty years, is in 
eyery respect an imitation of the medieval style of architecture ; but whether 
it is a copy of an edifice erected in the early da3's by the Shod Friars I haye 
been unable to ascertain. It is well worthy of a visit. 

Friars ( frirr, brother) were mendicant orders in the Roman Catholic 
church. Of these there were several varieties, or brotherhoods, such as the 
white, gray, black, etc., and some of them went barefooted. I do not know 
to which of the above this, hall belonged. 

They were in fact a set of mendicant religious tramps, and Chaucer 
tells us how they were looked upon in his day : — 

"This Frere bosteth that he knowetli Hell, 

And God it wot that is but littel wonder ; 

. ■ Freres and fiends are but littel asunder." 



(■3^. 



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THE CHURCH ALMS HOUSE. 

This is probably the oldest, ur at all e\'ents one of the oldest, houses 
now to be found in Boston. It stands on Wormgate Street, opposite St. 
Botolph's Church, and is reputed to have been built before the church. 

Before tlie establishment of poorhouses in England there were church 
almshouses, which in a measure supplied their place ; and here, at stated times, 
the poor and needy came to receiv'e money, clothes, or food. This is a brick 
building, and bears the marks of great antiquity. 



(14) 



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THE "BRIDGE. 

In tlu- 3-ear 1305 a patent grant was made to the town of St. Botolph 
tor tlie .support ol" a bridge, and in 132S another patent grant was made for a 
toll, to keep the bridge in repair. This old bridge, which was built of wood, 
did not stand where the present one does, and it was probably removed about 
the year 1500. and another built. 

Qiiite a number of bridges have been built and rebuilt since that time, 
and in 1802 it was decided to erect a new one of iron, which was opened lor 
tra\el in 1807. The total expense of this elegant and substantial structure 
was about ,£22,000 (,f 110,000). 

The arch of this bridge is eighty-six feet in span, and the breadth of the 
bridge about fort\- feet. The abutments are placed very low, so that the con- 
vexity of the arch otfers scarcely any obstacle to the passage over the bridge, 
which is carried across in verv nearly a horizontal direction. 



(16) 



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REV. JOHN COTTON'S VICARAGE. 

Mr. John Cotton was the son of Rowland Cotton? ^nd was born at 
Derby, December 4th, 1585. While pursuing his academical studies at 
Emanuel College, he manilested such strength of judgment and extent ot 
reasoning as made him admired by the most eminent men of the University. 
He was settled as minister in Boston, remaining there twenty years ; but 
being satisfied that the Church of England was not much more than half 
reformed, and openly declaring these opinions, he was threatened with perse- 
cution. He appealed to his friend the Earl of Dorset; who, after warmly 
interceding on his behalf with the Archbishop of Canterbury, informed Mr. 
Cotton that if he had been guilty of drunkenness, uncleanness, or any such 
lesser fault he could have obtained his pardon ; but as he was guilty of 
Puritanism and Non-conformity, his crime was unpardonable; and therefore 
he advised him to flee for his safety. This advice he took ; and with two 
other ministers, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone, embarked on board the same 
vessel for New England, — arriving there September 3d, 1633. He was 
soon afterward selected as their tlrst minister bj' the Winthrop Colon}', 
who it is generally supposed, named their settlement Boston, in honor 
ol Mr. Cotton. Here he lived respected and beloved until his death, 
which took place December 23d, 1652, in the sixty-eighth year of his 
age. He was buried in what is now called King's Chapel Bur^-ing 
Ground. 



(18) 



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TiOCHFORD TOIVER. '■ 

The Rochibrds were an ancient and noble family. Raymond de 
Rochford held property in Boston as early as 1293, and may have built this 
tower. A descendant ot' his. Sir John R., was famous for his long travels 
in France, Italy, etc., and he also ti-anslated Josephus" Histor}-. He was 
High Sheriff of Lincolnshire during the reicrn of Richard II. 

In the fifteenth century this property passed out of the Rochford 
family into that of the K\'mes ; but wl>ether bv intermarriage or purchase is 
not known. 

It afterward fell into the hands of the Crown by sequestration, and is 
now the property of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. 

This tower is built of brick, and quadrangular, having an octagon 
turret on its southeast angle, which contains a flight of seventy steps, com- 
municating with the upper apartments. The top is covered with lead, and 
inclosed with an embattled parapet. This tovyer had Ibrmerl)- a moat around 
it, which is now filled up. 



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THE GUILDHALL. 

This is on South Street, and is a \-ery ancient building, originally 
belonging to the Guild ot' the Blessed Mary, and built probably as early as 
1400. now used bv the mayor and corporation as a Town Hall, also tor 
public meetings, lectures, etc. The front, represented in the engraving, is 
somewhat dilapidated, and shorn nf much of its architectural beauty. 

It was given to the corporation of Boston in 1554, by Henry VHI., and 
used by them for their corporate and judicial proceedings. 

Massive pinnacles Ibrmerlv decorated the sides as well as the center 
of the gable. The large window is still in a tolerable state of preservation. 



A CHANTRY CHAPEL. 

This oltl building, which stood on South Place, was in all probability 
a chantr\', and was doubtless erected at a very early date. 

A chantry was a building erected in Roman Catholic countries by per- 
sons who lelt legacies for the purpose of having masses sung or chanted for 
the benefit of their souls, ami such persons were generally buried under 
them. 

These buildings were sometimes erected separately, but were generally 
attached to churches and mona.stic establishments. In cathedrals and large 
churches they were generally constructed within the church, often within 
the piers, and were usually enriched with sculpture and elaborate tracery, 
and adornetl with gilding and painting. 



(22) 



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JOHN POKE'S BIRTHPLACE. 

This building lias been greatly altered, and would not now be recog- 
nized troni the accompanying picture, which represents it as it was in i5i7' 
when Foxe was born. lie was sent early to Oxford College, where he at- 
tained great proficiency in Latin, Greek, and Mebrew. Before he left college 
he abandoned the Roman Catholic faith, and this being discovered he was 
expelled, and for many years suffered much from persecution. During the 
reign of Mary he was obliged to leave his native land, seeking refuge in 
Basle. After the death of Mary he returned to England, 1559, and died in 
London, 1587, in the seventieth year of his age. 

Besides the book by which he is best known, the '-Book of Martyrs," 
he wrote many other learned works, mostly of a controversial character. 



THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 

This school, wliich is built of brick, was erected by the mayor and 
burgesses of the town in 1567, being the ninth year of (^leen Elizabeth's 
reign. Over the entrance is a tablet stating this fact. 

The first head master was Walter Woodrofie, and his salary was £20 
(,fioo) per annum. 

The plot of ground in which this school stands was called the Mart 
Yard, In' reason that the great annual fair was held in it. 



(24) 




JOHN FOXE'S BIRTH-PLACE. 




THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 



HUSSEY CASTLE. 

This old tower stands in an inclosure on the eastern side ot" St. 
Jolin's Row, and is on\\ tlie main portion ot' an extensive building erected 
probably by Sir William IIiisse\-, in the reign of Edward IV. He was chief 
justice of the Court of King's Bench in 1481. A descendant of his who 
was made a baron bv Henry \^ni., and who had many other honors conferred 
upon him, ha\ing abetted an insurrection by the people of Lincolnshire 
against a subsidy that had been imposed on them, he was in June, 153S, be- 
headed at the city of Lincoln, and all his property confiscated to the Crown. 
This portion of it was afterward given to the town of Boston, which still retains 
possession of it. It is built of brick, and is in a very ruinous condition. 

There is a strong probabilit\' that John G. Whittier, the poet, is a de- 
scendant, on his grandmother's side, of this family. 



(26) 



OLD MONASTERY. 

This is a portion of a Dominican monastery standing on Sibse}^ Lane ; 
and for many \'ears after tlie suppression of the rehgious houses in the time 
of Henry VIII. this was used for various purposes, mostly lor storage, but is 
now in such a dila]iidated condition that it will probably never be repaired. 

It dates back to about 1300 or thereabouts. All the tour orders of 
mendicant friars were established in Boston soon after A.D. 1300, and in 1380 
a great quarrel and battle took ]")lace among these friars, in which many were 
killed and wounded. 



(28) 



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OLD HOUSE ON ARCHER LANE. 

Tliis is a very quaint old building, datinjj;- back, probably, to the reign 
of Edward III., if not still older. It is very dilapidated, and nothing about its 
historv can be (jleaned that is at all reliable. 



FLEMISH MERCHANT'S HOUSE. 

This is a portion of a large house standing on Mitre Lane, which is 
believed to have been built bv a Flemish merchant, in the reign of Edward 
I. The initials E. R. (Edward Rex) are plainly marked on the gable. It 
is now in a very dilapidated condition, and is mostly used as a storehouse. 



(30) 



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IVHITE HORSE /NN. 

This .stood on White Horse Lane. It is mentioned in 1564, and was 
held of Ilussey Hall. This was a very ancient house, and was kept as an 
inn until about 1680, when the license was removed to Furthend Lane. In 
1674 this house was held by James Cook, who paid one pound of cummin 
seed vearly to riusse\- Hall. This was a ver^' curious old building. The 
principal door, it will be observed, is in what is usually called the old Dutch 
style. 



ANCIENT HOUSE ON CHURCH STREET. 

This is a very ancient building : but little or nothing that is reliable 
can be ascertained respecting it. It is used as a depositor}' for religious pub- 
lications. It was probably built about 1470. 



(32) 





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THE WHITE HORSE INN. 




OLD HOUSE ON CHURCH STREET. 



CURIOUS HOUSE ON STANBOPV LANE. 

This is a very curious ancient house. It belono-ed to the Robinson 
famih', Ibrmerlv of <rreat distinction and intUience, and must have been built 
as early as 1570, and probabl_y niuch earlier. The second door to the right 
is a curious one, and the ornamentation of the upper part of the house is very 
peculiar indeed. The large \vindo\\' is of course modern. In the interior are 
some fine specimens of carved work. 

The iirst Mayor of Boston was Nicholas Robinson, in 1545. 



(34) 



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TOMB OF A KNIGHT. 

This is the effigy of a Knight wrought in ahibaster, but lias neither coat of 
arms nor inscription. It is probable from the dress and sculpture of this 
figure that it belongs to the thirteenth century. These ancient tombs are 
placed under low arches in the wall, which no doubt were constructed for 
this purpose. This figure probably represents Sir Frederick Tilney, who 
accompanied Richard the Lion-hearted to the crusades. 

This knight was of more than ordinary stature and strength, and per- 
formed prodigies of valor in the various battles tbught for the possession of 
the Holy Land. 

" The knight is dust, 
His good sword rust, 
His soul is with the saints we trust." 



TOMB OF A LADY. 

By some this is supposed to represent Dame Margaret Tilney, who 
laid the foundation stone of St. Botolph's Church ; but as the inscriptions 
have been obliterated we are left to conjecture ; but there can be no doubt that 
this is the effigy of some fair and noble lady, who doubtless presided as the 
Queen of Love and lieautv at nian\- a joust and tournament in the days of 
aidd lang syne. 

"Now caracoled tlie steeds in air. 
Now plumes and pennons wantoned lair. 
As all around the lists so wide 
In panoply the champions ride. 
This knight his youthful strength to prove, 
And that to win his ladv's love." 



Cl6) 




TOMB OF A KNIGHT. 



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^|.vV!|M! '%W^ 



TOMB OF A LADY. 



^ARNHAM-BURTON HOUSE. 

The heirs of Richard Wyles occupied a house at what is now called 
Burton Corner, in 1611, then called Barnham House, for which they paid a 
quit-rent to the lords of Poynton Hall of loid (22 cents) and half a pound of 
pepper. In 1661 this property was held by Andrew Burton, and his grand- 
son John paid the above quit-rent in 1692. 

This is a most charming place, as may readily be seen by looking at 
the opposite page. 



THE JERUSALEM HOUSE. 

The site of the Hospital of St. John was on the west side of Bargate 
Drain ; but nothing now remains of it except an old building called Jerusalem 
House ; but whether this is one of the original buildings, or whether some of 
the materials of the hospital were used in the erection of this house, is uncer- 
tain : at all events this is a very interesting and very old building. The 
Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, or Knights Hospitallers, as they were also 
called, had a Hospital in Boston, and two noted masters of the Order 
belonged here. One of them, Alexander de Poynton, was master of the 
Hospital outside of St. Botolph's in 1276; and another was Sir Wni. Weston, 
the last Lord Prior of England, at the time of the dissolution of the Order, 
in 1540. He died on the day the Priory was suppressed. 



(38) 




BURTON CORNER HOUSE. 




THE OLD JERUSALEM HOUSE. 



HERON'S HALL. 

This was a fine old mansion, of considerable extent, and was called 
Heron's and sometimes Hernshaw Hall. The stones used in its erection were 
said to have been taken from the church of St. John of Jerusalem, when that 
building was pulled down, so that this building would probably date back to 
about i=;8o, about which time this church was ordered to be taken down. 



THE THREE TUNS INN. 

This was a noted old tavern, antl among other things is famous from 
the circumstance that Oliver Cromwell slept here tiie night before he fought 
the battle of Winceby, one of the most important engagements during the 
Civil War. 

This is a very curious building, on account of the peculiar zigzag 
style of arranging the brickwork. 



(40) 




HERON'S HALL, 




THE THREE TUNS INN. 




HEOO-ChKOMI 



Ht(.iOtVPE PRIKTIKG CO., «05T0S. 



OLD STATE HOUSE, 



HOMES 



OF 



OUR FOREFATHERS 



IN 



BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND. 



FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS 

By EDWIN WHITEFIELD. 



COPYRICfHT BV EDWIN WHITEFIBLD, iSSg. 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



BOSTON : 

E. WHITEFIELD, 211 TREMONT STREET. 

1889. 



THE OLD STATE HOUSE. 

The following is a clear and succinct history of the famous old build- 
ing : " On this spot stood, until its burning, Oct. 3, 1711, the Hrst town house 
of Boston, founded in 1657 b}- the liberality of Capt. Robert Keayne. Here, 
in 1713, was erected the second town house, whose walls endure to this day, 
as do the floors and roof, constructed in 17 17, after a second tire had devas- 
tated its chambers. Here the loyal assemblies obeyed the Crown ; here the 
spirit of liberty was aroused and guided b}' the eloquent appeals and saga- 
cious counsels of Otis, Adams, Quincy, Warren, Gushing, and Hancock ; 
here the child Independence was born : here Washington received the tribute 
of an enfranchised people ; here was installed the government of a new State ; 
here for ten years our civil rulers assembled ; and here, by the vote of the 
City Council of 1881, have been reconstructed, in their original form, the 
Council Chamber and Representatives' Hall, — hallowed by the memories of 
the Revolution. Majf our children preserve the sacred trust." 



(45) 



SUN TAI/ERN. 

YAwM\\ Bendall, thu tirst owner of this estate, established in 1637, by 
leave (if the town, a public terry "to Noddle"s Island" (East Boston), "and 
the ships riding before the town." A Cove, called Bendall's Cove, at that 
period extended trom the sea to the foot of Exchange Street (covering the 
territory now occupied by Fancuil Hall, Qiiincy Market, and the granite 
stores) to the harbor, and at the head of the Cove, directly in front of the 
Sun Tavern site, was a dock, afterward called the Town Dock, Ironi which 
Dock Square derives its name. 

The style of architecture (with the two projections), and the framing 
material of the house, indicate it as one of the earliest of the colonial struct- 
ures, the style and mode of building being in vogue much earlier than 1676, 
and but little used in towns after that date. Although the two stories are, re'- 
spectively, but eight feet, and seven and a half feet in height, the principal 
timbers are of clear pine, twelve inches square, and the smaller framing of 
white oak, six inches square. Tiie marks, still upon the timbers, prove that 
they were hewn In' hand, and were undoubtedlv cut from the immediate 
vicinity. 

The first reference to it as a public house is in a conveyance by Samuel 
Lynde to Benjamin Fitch, dated Nov. 30, 1709, in which it is called " the 
Sun Tavern, now occupied by Thomas Phillips.'" 

It was kept by Captain James Day, in 1755, and the Scots' Charitable 
Society held their meetings in it in 1756. During the siege of Boston it was 
taken possession of by the British, who changed its name to the "King's 
Arms." 

It remained in possession of the heirs of the Lynde family until 1741, 
and since tlien it has had but lour owners. It is now the property of Mr. 
Chas. W. Galloupe, in whose possession it has been for more than a quarter 
of a century. 

It is probablv the oldest, and certainly one of the most interesting, of 
the few remaining colonial buildings in existence in this city. 



THE CHILD-SHE/IFE HOUSE. 

This noted house stood at the corner of Essex and Columbia Streets, 
and was taken down a few \-ears since. -It was built by I'hos. Child, a 
native of Boston, England, about 1728, who lived here for many years in 
grand style. The property afterward fell into the hands of the Sheafe 
family, and at the breaking out of the War, Lord Percy made this house his 
headquarters. The Sheafe familv was a noted one in many respects. One 
of its members, Roger Sheafe, a great favorite of Lord Percy, became a 
promini'nt gi-neral in the British army, under the title of Sir Roger Hale 
Shiale, ISart., and died in lulinbiugh, 1851. 

(46) 




SUN TAVERN, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY 




SHEAFE HOUSE, ESSEX ST. 



t 



THE AUCHMUTY HOUSE. 

This fine old Iioiise stands at the corner of Washinp-ton and Clift' 
Streets, and was built by Judge Auchmuty, probably about 1756. He was a 
member of Governor Hutchinson's Council. When the British evacuated 
Boston he removed to Halifax, and the property was confiscated to the State. 

Governor Sumner li\ed in this house and died here, and here his body 
la_y in state before it was removed to the State House. 

The First Baptist Society of Roxbury was gathered in this house, and 
here Rev. Dr, Sharp preached the first sermon. 

During the Civil War all the work of the Roxbury Sanitary' Societv 
was collected in this house, and sent to the general office. It is now the 
residence of Mr. C. F. Bradford. 



THE SHIRLEY HOUSE. 

This large and handsome mansion, standingon Shirlev Street, Roxbury, 
was built by Governor Shirley, and here he died, March 24. 1771. It is said 
that most of the materials composing it were brought from England. The 
surroundings of this house are now verv different to what they once were. 

It is also called the Eustis House, as at a later date Governor Eustis 
lived there. 

Wm. Shirley was born in Sussex, England, 1694, and was commis- 
sioned Governor of Massachusetts, as successor to Belcher, in 1741. He was 
one of the most popular of the ro\'al governors, and it was during his control 
tliat the strong Ibrtress of Louisburg was captured from the French. 

Washington, Lafayette. Franklin, and other distinguished men have 
been the guests of this house. 



(18) 




SHIRLEY HOUSE, DORCHESTER. 




AUCHMUTY HOUSE. ROXBURY. 



THE PIERCE MANSION. 

This house, wliich stands on Oak Avenue, in what was formerly the 
town of Dorchester, now a part of Boston, was built bv Robert Pierce, in the 
year 1640, ten 3'ears after he arrived from England in the ship Mar}- and 
John. It was occupied by him until his death, 1664, and since that time until 
the present has always been owned and occupied by his lineal descendants, 
representing nine generations of the family in this countrv. 

Besides the wills and deeds of the property, many interesting articles 
of furniture have been preserved by the family ; and among other things 
some bread or biscuit brought b}- Robert from England. 

The house is in a good state of preservation, and has been but little 
changed by repairs. 

It is quite probable that the name " Pierce " is a variation of Percy, 
the names of the noted border chieftains of Northumberland, so often cele- 
brated in ballad and legend. 



THE GAR-DNER HOUSE. 

^^his is a very old house on Pleasant Street, in Dorchester, built in 
all probability at least 200 years ago, but b}^ whom cannot be ascertained. 
Ebenezer Niles lived here in the early part of the century. He was a 
merchant on Central Wharf, Boston, of the hrm of Newell & Niles ; but 
whether an ancestor of his built the house is uncertain. It afterward came 
into possession of the Gardner family, and was sold very recently, and will 
either be taken down or moved to another place. The rounded corners of 
this house were added by Governor Gardner's father. 



(50; 




GARDNER HOUSE, PLEASANT ST., DORCHESTER. 




THE PIERCE HOUSE. DORCHESTER. 



THE i4^ARREN HOUSE. 

This house was built b}- Gen. Jos. Warren's grandfather, in 1720. It 
was used as quarters by Col. Dav. Brewer's regiment in 1775. It was pulled 
down by Dr. J. C. Warren in 1846. and a stone house built on the spot 
where the old one stood. 

Gen. Jos. Warren, one of the tirst martyrs to the cause of liberty in 
New England, was born in this house, June 11, 1741. He was one of the 
most talented, fearless, and active of the earl\- patriots. 

This view is from a model. 



THE CRAFTS HOUSE. 

This house is situated on Tremont Street, near the Brookline line, and 
is one of the oldest in Boston. It was built in 1703, by Jno. Ruggles. Back 
of the house is the orchard where all the celebrated Roxbury russets origi- 
nated. Some of the apple trees measure now more than twelve feet in 
circumference. 

An examination of the title to this house and tiie four-acre orchard in 
which it stands, shows that until very recently it had never been conveyed bv 
deed. 

In 1639 '"^ '^^'^^ granted by the town of Boston to Thos. Ruggles. who, 
five years later, " knowynge all men must dye," left it by will to his son 
John. In October, 165S, "John Ruggles, being by God's hand weak in body 
yet light in memnry, blessed be God," made his will, which was approved at 
a "Meetinge of the Magistrates, giving this home lott to his sonne John," who 
owned it until 1705, when it passed, by agreement, to his relative Eben Crafts. 
He died in 1722, and the lot descended to his son Eben, who lived in this 
house until 1789, when he died and left it to his son Eben, who resided here 
seventy-five years, and died in 1864. His trustees sold the old house and 
home lot to Stillman B. Allen, Esq.. and this was the first deed ever made of 
the premises. 



(S2) 




CRAFT'S HOUSE, TREMONT ST. 

NEAR BROOKLINE 




THE WARREN HOUSE. 



THE CUR'IIS HOUSE. 

This interesting old house stood near the Bovlston Station on the 
Providence Road. It was taken down about three years since. It was built 
by William Curtis, about 1640, and was always in possession of his descend- 
ants until its recent sale. Washington occupied it for a short time at the com- 
mencement of the Revolutionary W'ar. 



THE THOREAU HOUSE. 

This old building stands on Prince Street. It is in a very dilapidated 
condition. It is chiefly noted for having been for many years owned bv the 
Thoreau I'amily. 

Jno. Thoreau, grandfather of Henry, the well-known and somewhat 
eccentric writer, came to Boston from the Island of Jersex*, in 177.?, and soon 
afterward bought this house of the Orrok family. It was at that time about 
titty years old, having been built about 1720 bv a man named Sherwin. The 
removal ot the Thoreaus to Concord, where Henr}' was born, took place in 
1800, but this property remained until recently in possession of Maria Tho* 
reau, the last of this family. 



(S+) 




THE CURTIS HOUSE. 




THE THOREAU HOUSE. 



THE GEE-GRAY HOUSE. 

This building stands on Prince Street, at the corner of Lafayette Ave- 
nue. It was probably built bv the Rev. Joshua Gee ; at all events it belonged 
to him when he died, in 1750. This house was used as a militarv hospital 
during the occupation of Boston by the British troops, especially after the 
battle of Bunker Ilill. 

It was afterward noted for having been the residence of Capt. Wm. 
Gray, who was a noted ship-owner, and who built Graj^'s Wharf. It is now 
in a dilapidated condition, and will probably soon disappear. 



GREEN DRAGON INN. 

This was in its day a very lamous tavern, especially preceding and 
during the Revolutionary troubles. It was probablv built by Deputy-Gov- 
ernor Stoughton, and it afterward had many owners. In 1695 it was kept by 
Alex. Smith. In 1743 it became the property of Dr. Wm. Douglas, the cele- 
brated Scotch physician. 

This interesting old building stood on Union Street, and there is a 
stone tablet in the front wall of Nos. 80-86. showing the dragon carved in 
relief. It was taken down in 1828. 

The first religious services of the Sandemanians were held here, in 1764. 

At the breaking out (.)f the Revolutionarv troubles it was a prominent 
resort of the leading patriots. 

This is evident from the following sample of patriotic poetrv pub- 
lished at this period : — 

••Rally, Mohawks ! bring out 3'our axes. 
And tell King George we'll pay no taxes 

On his foreign tea. 
His threats are vain; he need not tiiink 
T(i I'lirce our v\'ives antl girls to drink 

His vile Bohea ! 
Then rally, boys ! and hasten on 
To meet our chiefs at the Green Dragon." 



(.56) 




THE GRAY HOUSE. 




THE GREEN DRAGON INN. 



THE PROVINCE HOUSE. 

The I'lovitice House was siluated about seventy feet west of what is 
now Wasliington Street, ahnost opposite the Old South Church, with ample' 
grounds filled with shrubbery and flower gardens, and altogether a most 
attractive place. It was built in 1679 tor a private residence by Peter Sar- 
geant, a wealtiiv Londcm merchant, who came here a few years before. In 
1716 the Province purchased it for the ust' of the (losernment, and several of 
the royal governors afterward made it their place of abode. After the Revo- 
lution it was occupied for State ollices until the present State House was com- 
pleted. In iSii it was granted to the Massacluisetts General Hospital, who 
leased it for ninety-nini' xi-ars to David (ireenough. In 1864 it was nearly 
deslroved bv tire. What has bisen lelt of it is so surrounded by other build- 
ings that it is diflicull to trace its remains. The vane, made of copper and 
representing an Indian, has been preserved, and is owned by the Massachu- 
setts Historical Society. 



IHE G /I L LOUPE HOUSE. 

The " Galloupe House," No. 16 Hull Street, was erected in 1724 by a 
Mr. Clough, and was purchased by Mr. Benjamin Gallop (afterward called 
Galloupe), in 1772, who died in 1776, just after the Declaration of Independ- 
ence. The estate then became the pro]iert\' of his A'oungest son. Richard, 
and alter Richard's diatli \\ as inherited In' the youngest daughter, who mar- 
ried Mr. William Marble, anil was sold b\- him in 1877, '' short time after the 
death of his wife. 

llenjamin (iallop. owner of the so-called •' (lalloupe House," on I lull 
Street, was the grandson ol' Ik'uadam Ciallop, who in 1688, as second ollicer 
of the .Sloop Mary, — Capt. Sanuiel Pease, Commander (who was fatally 
wounded during the engagement), — captured the notorious jiirate ^Fom 
Pound, who was afterward hung in chains upon the (tlu-n) island called 
Nix's Mate, in Boston Harbor. 

The grandfather of this iu'iuidani was the son of Cajit. John (Jallop, 
who was slain at the famous Narragansett Swamp fight, in 1676, while in 
connnand ol' his own coinpan\ and the Mohegan Indians, and the grandson 
of' Capt. John tjallop, vvlio, in i03(), in Narragansett i5ay, captured the vessel 
which was taken by the Indians from John Oldham, and of whom Cooper, in 
his Navab History. sa\s, I'ought ■• the lirst engagement that ]irobabIy ever 
occurred between the inhabitants ol' the American Colonies and enemies 
adoat." 

(S8) 



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HANCOCK TAVERN. 

In a narrow allev leading out of Faneuil Hall Square, called Corn 
Court, stands an ancient hostelry, which claims to be the oldest inn now 
remaining in Boston ; but it has been so changed that it bears little resem- 
blance to the original building, which doubtless was not more than two stories 
high. There is little doubt that the present building occupies the site of the 
first inn built in Boston, In' Samuel Cole, in 1634. This buiying has long 
since disappeared, and the present brick structure was erected about 1730, 
or thereabouts, and it was, like the Green Dragon, a place of resort by the 
patriots in the earl}' Revolutionary days. It was not known by its present 
name until after the election of John Hancock as Governor, in 1780, when 
John Duggan was the landlord. 

During the last days of the eighteenth century this inn was the favor- 
ite resort of noted foreigners who visited this country, among whom may be 
mentioned Talleyrand and Louis Philippe. It was also a favorite resort of 
Benjamin Franklin. 



NEIVMAN HOUSE. 



COR. SALEM AND SHEAFE STREETS. 



This was probably built by Jonathan Dwight. about 1737. He sold it 
in 1741 to Thos. Newman. Robert, one of his sons, was sexton of Christ 
Church, and was undoubtedly the man who hung the lanterns in the tower 
as a siofnal to Revere. British officers were quartered in the house, but 
young Newman climbed out of his window to the back shed, which is shown 
in the \iew, and then easily junqicd to tlu' ground, whence, having the keys, 
he entered the church, and having hung the lanterns returned to his room in 
the same way, without having any suspicions attached to him. It is possible 
that he was arrested, but nothing could lie proved against him. 

It has been recently taken down. 



(60) 



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THE P/1INE-TREMERE HOUSE. 

This is probably the oldest brick house now remaining in Boston. It 
was probably built by John Paine, and he sold it to Wm. Downe, in 1674. It 
stands at the extreme end of North Street, and has long been in posses- 
sion of tlie Tremere family. 

Its peculiarities may be seen^ at a glance : the heavy bands, the vari- 
ous shapes of the windows, its massive chimneys, etc., are well worthy of 
notice : and the rear of the house, as well as the interior, are well worth a 
visit. 



THE OLD EEATHER STORE. 

This old and well-known building, which was taken down about i860, 
stood at the corner of North Street and Dock Square. It was built in 1680. 
Its overhanging stories and many gables, r " other features, so different from 
the monotonous appearance of surrounding buildings, alwavs rendered it an 
object of curiosity to strangers visiting Boston, and it is a great pity that it 
has not been preserved as a memento of b^'-gone times. 

Almost all kinds of business have been carried on here : among others 
the Simpsons kept a feather store here ; but why this particular business 
rather than an\- other slmuld have become its cognomen, I am unable to .sa\'. 



(62) 




THE OLD FEATHER STORE. 




THE TREMERE HOUSE, NORTH STREET. 



PAUL REV ERE' S HOUSE. 

This house stands on North Square, and was built in 1678 by Robert 
Howard. It had afterward several owners, and in' 1770 John Erving sold it 
to Paul Revere. He lived here about thirty years, and afterward removed 
to a brick house in Charter Street. 

The exterior has been materiallv changed. It had originally three 
windows in the upper story, and the front door in the middle of the lower 
story. 

Paul Revere was descended from a French Huguenot familv. lie was 
born in Boston (where is not known), Dec. 21, 1734. 

His career as a leader in the great struggle for libertv and independ- 
ence is so well known that it is needless to go into details. After the close 
of the war he resumed his business as a gold and silversmith and a manufac- 
turer of bells, for which he was very famous. The first bell he cast was in 
1792. It weighed 912 pounds, and cost nearly £75. This famous bell is 
said to be still in existence. 



THE C LOUGH HOUSE. 

This stands at the corner of Sheafe and Margaret Streets, and was 
built about 1722 by Benjamin Clough. It afterward came by marriage into 
the possession of the Waters famih-. and continued to be owned by them until 
1859. ^^ ^s '•^^^ oldest house on the street. The front door used to be on the 
south side, where was a large garden. 



(64) 



I 




S^g>5^g fe--C--$^^;fegK'5>.Z-----^-^ JS 



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THE CLOUGH HOUSE, MARGARET STREET 




THE PAUL REVERE HOUSE, NORTH SQUARE 



THE ^LAKE HOUSE. 

This very old liouse is in Dorchester; was built in 1650, by Deacon 
James Blake. It stands in the rear of Cottage Street. The descendants of 
Deacon Blake were prominent men in the town of Dorchester, as well as 
elsewhere. It is not certain, although quite probable, that this James Blake 
was a nephew of the celebrated Admiral Blake, who was born at Bridgewater, 
in vSomersetshire, England, in 159S. The Admiral was an ardent Repub- 
lican, and did good ser\-ice on land, as well as at sea. 



BIRTHPLACE OF EDIVARD EVERETT. 

This was built about 1770. 

The Rev. Oliver Everett was pastor of the New South Church in Bos- 
ton in i7<S2, and after giving up his pastorate there removed to Dorchester, 
and in this house his son, the noted Edward Everett, was born in 1794. 

It stands on the corner of Boston and Pond Streets. It is said to have 
been occupied by General Washington. 

It is said that Robt. Oliver, a West India merchant, built this house. 



(66) 




EDWARD EVERETT S BIRTHPLACE, DORCHESTER. 




THE BLAKE HOUSE DORCHESTER 



14/ ELLS MANSION. 

The oldest part of this building (the most prominent portion in the 
picture) was probably built about 1670, but by whom it is difficult to say. 
The farther portion is somewhat more modern. Adam Winthrop owned it in 
1700, and afterward it passed through man\- ownerships. For nearly a hun- 
dred years past it has belonged to the Wells family. 

It is probably the oldest wooden building now standing at the North 
End of Boston ; and its timbers are so substantial that it ma}- last for many 
years yet. 

It is the onl\' old house left in Boston liaving two projecting stories ; 
and this fact alone is proof of its antiquity. 



THE BADGER HOUSE. 

This old house is on Prince Street, corner of Thatcher Street, and was 
built about 1750, probably by Benjamin 15rown. and afterward owned by 
Caleb Champney. Col. Thos. Badger bought it in 1S02. He was quite a 
prominent man in his time. This building, which, quaint and somewhat 
dilapidated, has, with the exception of the shop in front, been very little 
changed. 



(68) 




THE BADGER HOUSE, PRINCE STREET. 




THE WELLS MANSION, SALFM STREET 



THE FANEUIL MANSION. 

This large and handsome building stood nearly opposite King's 
Chapel, was built by Andrew F., the uncle of Peter Faneuil, and he became 
the wealthiest merchant in Boston. The Faneuils were descended trom a 
French Huguenot family, who fled from France to ayoid persecution. Here 
he lived in a style that befitted his wealth and position. But he is best known 
for his munificent gift of the structure that bears his name, to the town of 
Boston. Faneuil did not liye long after the completion of the Hall : and in 
1761 it unfortunately caught fire and burnt to the ground. The new hall 
was completed March 14, 1764. 

Miss Quincy thus describes this mansion: "The deep courtyard, 
ornamented by flowers and shrubs, was divided into an upper and lower 
platform by a high glacis, surmounted by a richly wrought iron railing. The 
edifice was of brick. The terraces that rose Irom the paved court behind the 
house were supported by massive walls of hewn granite, and were ascended 
by flights of steps. A grasshopper glittered on a summer house which 
commanded a view second only to that from Beacon Hill." 



THE OLT> CORNER BOOKSTORE. 

The land upon which this well-known building stands belonged, in 
the early days, to William Hutchinson. 

It afterward passed through several ownerships, and in the fire of Octo- 
ber, 171 1, the buildings which stood here were burnt down; and in the 
following year the present brick building was erected, by a Mr. Crease. 

From this date the property has been sold and re-sold, and, in 181 7, 
the front part was used as an apothecary shop by Dr. Sam'l Clarke, father of 
the Rev. Jas. Freeman Clarke, until 1828 ; since which time it has been 
famous as a bookstore. 

During all this time it has, of course, gt)ne through many alterations ; 
so that at the present time it retains very few of its orginal t'eatures. 



(70) 




THE FANEUIL MANSION 




OLD CORNER BOOKSTORE. 



THE A SPIN IV ALL HOUSE. 

This (lid liouse, staiulino- on Aspinwall Avenue, Brookline, opposite St. 
Paul's Episcopal Church, was huill about 1660 b}' Peter Aspinwall, who 
came from Toxteth Park, near Liverpool, England, in 1630, He settled first 
in Dorchester, where he lived till 1650, when he and Robert Sharp bought of 
William Colburn the farm on which this house stands. The house has never 
been owned h\ Any one Iiut a direct descendant of Peter Aspinwall. It is 
owned now bv the Honorable William Aspinwall, to whom it was de\-ised by 
his father, the late ColoiU'l Thomas Aspinwall, who died in 1876, and to whom 
it had been devised h\ his father, tlu' late Dr, William Aspinwall, who died in 
1.S23. JMr. .\spinwall is in the sixth generation from his ancestor Peter, 
Since iSo,:; the house has not been occupied b\' an\' member of the Aspinwall 
familv. Dr. Aspinwall having moved in that year to the liouse built bv him 
on the road to Watertown, now called Washington Street, This last house 
is owned and occupied b}- the only grandson of its builder of the same napie — 
the Honorable William Aspinwall betbre mentioned. 



KING'S CHAPEL. 

A small wooden building was erected on this spot for conducting re- 
ligious services according to the forms of the Chiu'ch of England, luider the 
governorship of Andros, hut it w^as not until 1749 that Go\X'rnor Shirkw laid 
the loundation stone of this cpiaint old edifice. 

In 1783, under the ministry of IMr. Freenuui, the societv abandoiu-d 
the dognui of the Trinit\ , and thus the first Episcopal Church became the 
first Unitarian Church ol' iNew P^ngland. 

The fn\st organ ever used in New England was given to this societ\', 
in 1713, by Thos. Braltle. 

In tlie burying grmmcl adjoining lie the remains of Rev. John Cotton. 
Here, also, were interred the tbllowing governors: John Winthrop, in 1649; 
John I^^iulicott, 1665: John Leverett, 1679: and \Vi\i, .Shirle\ , 1771, besides 
many other eminent nu'U, 



(72) 














: .:^?^.> . 



ASPINWALL HOUSE, BROOKLINE. 




KINGS CHAPEL, TREMONT STREET. 



KIMB/ILL-PARKER HOUSE. 

This peculiar old house stands on Unity Street ; was Iniilt by Ebenezer 
Kimball about 1710, or perhaps somewhat earlier, and he sold it to Caleb 
Parker in 1724, and it has continued in the possession of his descendants until 
the present time. The bricks are said to have been imported iVom Euifland, 
and are larger than those in general use. It has wide bands similar to those 
in the Tremere House. 



THE MATHER-ELIOT HOUSE. 

This is a portion of an old wooden building squeezed in between two 
larger buildings, near the north corner of Hanover and Bennett Streets. 

I'kiilt by Increase Mather in 1677, and here he died in 1723. Here his 
son, Cotton Mather, was born, and spent his early days. 

It atterward was owned by Rev. Andrew Eliot, and then by his son, 
John Eliot, D.D., who was born in 1754. '^"^ who, alter preaching a few years 
in ditTerent places, was ordained as the successor of his father, in 1779, pastor 
of the new North Church. Boston. He died in 1813. 

This house has been disfigured by a miserable little shop built in iVont 
of the lower story, and which is not represented in the picture. 



(H) 



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ORANGE-L INCOL N HOUSE. 

This liuilding stands at the corner of Salem and North Bennett 
Streets. It was buiU bv Robert Orange, about 1716, and he kept it as a 
tavern until his death, in 1734. It, after changing hands several times, be- 
came the property of Noah Lincoln, who lived here until his death, in 1856. 
Since that time it has undergone many changes and alterations ; but the old 
paneled chimneys still remain. 



THE HARTT HOUSE. 

lUILL STREET. 

Built, probably, about 1740, by Baker. The Hartts were great 

shipwriglits. 

Capt. Edmund llartt built in his own yard the famous frigate " Con- 
stitution," and manv other famous ships. 

luhvanl, his oldest son. bought this lii-use, in 1S03, ol" the heirs (jf 
Alex. Baker. 



(76) 




I 







ORANGE-LINCOLN HOUSE, SALEM STREET. 




THE HARTT HOUSE, HULL STREET. 



C/IPEN HOUSE. 

This was built by a descendant of Bernard Capen, who came to this 
country 1633, and settled in Dorchester. He was a very old man when he 
came to this countrj', as he died five years alterward, aged seventy-six. His 
gravestone is supposed to Iiave been the oldest in New England. 

This house is on Union Street, corner of Marshall L^ne, and was for 
several generations owned and occupied by the Capen family. It was once 
the great dry-goods store of Boston ; and here Benj. Thompson (afterward 
Count Rumford) and Samuel Parkman served as apprentices to Hopestill 
Capen. 



TILES TON HOUSE. 

COR. PRINCE AND MARCiARET STREETS. 

John Tileston, who lived in this house, was the most noted school- 
master that Boston ever had. Me was born in Boston, Feb. 27, 1735. In 
1762 he was appointed master of the school in Bennett Street, at a salary ol 
$500 per annum ; and here he remained until 1S19, when he retired : but his 
salarv, w hich he richlv deserved, was continued to his death, Oct. 13, 1826. 

Tiiis house where he lived so long was once a very pleasant domicile, 
shaded h\ trees, but it has been shockingly disfigured, and, added to that, it 
retains scarcely an}- semblance of its former respectabilit)-. He left no de- 
scendants. 



(78) 




CAPEN HOUSE, UNION STREET. 




THE TILESTON HOUSE. PRINCE STREET- 



OCHTORLONY HOUSE. 

NORTH STREET. 

The exact age of this house is not known ; Dr. John Perkins lived here 
in 1695. It was sold to Capt. Edward Martyn, in 1717, and his widow sold 
it to Andrew Tyler, whose wife was sister to Sir William Pepperell. In 1762 
it was purchased by Capt. David Ochtorlonv, a son of the Laird of Pitforthy, 
in Scotland. Captain Ochtorlony's son David entered the British army, in 
which he attained high distinction, becoming a Major-General and a Knight 
of the Grand Cross of the Bath. His father died in this house, and it has since 
had several owners, and the front on North Street has been entirely changed ; 
but the side and end retain their antique appearance, except the windows, 
which ha\e modern sashes in them. 



CLOUGH-VERNON HOUSE. 

The old house stands on Vernon I'lace. ofT Charter Street, and was 
probabh' built bv William Clougji, as he was living here in 169S. It is a 
fine specimen of the houses built in earlv times. „ It will be noticed that the 
second story at the end overhangs the lower part considerably, which tact 
alone would attest its great age. The middle door and the stack of chimneys 
are also worthy of notice. 



(80) 







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"Hi 

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THE OCHTORLONY HOUSE, NORTH STREET. 




CLOUGH-VERNON HOUSE, VERNON COURT 



CHRIST CHURCH. 

ON SALEM STREET, OPPOSITE HULL STREET. 

This is the oldest cluirch edifice now standing in Boston, having been 
built in 1723. Its style of architecture is very plain and simple, but is very 
substantially built. 

It possesses a chime of eight bells, brought from England in 1744, 
and here the first organ was placed in 1736; the present organ took its place 
very recently. 

On the 9th of October, 1804, a violent storm blew down the steeple, 
and the present one was erected in 1807, which is eighteen teet lower than 
the old one, but exactly similar to it in style. 

The proper name of this building is Christ Church, but it is now gen- 
erally known as the '• Old North Church." 

There is no reasonable doubt that it was from the windows of this 
churcii tlie lanterns were hung as a signal to Paul Revere, April iS, 1775. 

In front of the tower is a tablet with the ibllowing inscription : — 

TH1-: SKiNAL LANTERNS OF 

PAUL REVERE, 

dlsplayei) in the s'l^eeple of this church 

April 18, 1775, 

warned the country of the march 

of the british troops to 

LEXINGTON and CONCORD. 



OLD SOUTH MEETING-HOUSE. 

This, the tliird cliurch organized in Boston, was built in 1730, replac- 
ing a wooden building. 

Many important meetings were held here at the breaking out of the 
Revolutionary War. 

Benjamin Franklin, wlio was born in a house on the opposite side of 
the street, was baptized here. 

Its walls have resounded to the eloquence of Whitefield. 

It is no longer used for sacred services, but is a historical museum 
building. 

(82) 



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FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. 

This probably represents the first meeting-house built by the early 
settlers ol Boston, as correctly as any other that has been before pictured of 
it. We know little more than that its walls were built of clay or mud, and that 
it was covered with a straw roof. It stood opposite to, and very near, where 
the Old State House now is. 



BL ACKS I ONE'S HOUSE. 

There is no certaintv as to the exact date of Blackstone's settlement 
in lioston ; but judging from what little we can glean from Winthrop's His- 
tory of New England, it is probable that he came from England, with Captain 
Wollaston, in 1625. and left that company on Morton's arrival, and made a 
settlement in 1626, so that on the arrival of Winthrop he had been living 
here some three or four years. He sold out all his claim to the Winthop 
colony, in 1635. 

We find bv the records that at a court i April, 1633: " It is agreed 
that Mr. Wm. Blaxton shall have 50 acres set out for him near to his house 
in Boston to enjoy forever." It is quite probable that he was a clergyman of 
the Church of England, of a liberal turn of mind, and that he did not fall in 
with the strict and sombre notions of the Puritans, and therefore left them, 
and retired to what is now Rhode Island, where he laid out a farm on the 
stream called after him, Blackstone River, a few miles from Providence. Here 
he lived until his death. May 26, 1675. He was married July 4, 1659, to 
Sarah Stephenson, a widow, bv Governor John Endicott. He well improved 
his new estate, and apples from his farm were held in high repute. 

About a \'ear after his death the Indians burnt his house, and a valu- 
able librar\' was thus destroyed. 

The proper spelling of his name was Blaxton, as this is the wa\' he 
signed it at Emanuel College, Cambridge, when he took his degrees of A.B. 
and A.M., in 1617 and 1621. 

As he was alone when found by Winthrop's company, and had no 
means of obtaining glass for his windows or shingles for his house, it was 
undoubtedly built of clay or mud, and covered with hay or straw, and the 
chimney probably built of rough stones, plastered with clay. It stood some- 
where near the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets, very near the water. 



(84) 







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FIRST MEETING HOUSE. 



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BLACKSTONE'S HOUSE. 



